The Miami Heat face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new look Milwaukee Bucks immediately upon season open. Back to back, might I add, it’s an early test.
The Miami Heat were able to get the job done last season during the NBA Bubble playoffs when it came to the Milwaukee Bucks. To be honest, it wasn’t even a contest in their series.
A gentleman’s sweep, the Miami Heat were able to handle their business against the Bucks and the Greek Freak in just five games. Well, this is a new season and not only am I sure that the guys that are still around from last year’s team haven’t forgotten about what happened just a few months ago, but they have a couple of new guys in the fold that might serve to strengthen their chances.
That’s important for three reasons. First is simply this, they are sure to be a contender in the conference again, so there’s that.
Secondly, they have retooled their roster, but we will get there in a minute. Lastly, the Miami Heat face them twice in the first few games, back to back.
A guy that many, including us, pegged as being on the Miami Heat’s radar, Jrue Holiday is now a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Among other notable free agents that they brought in were Bobby Portis, D.J. Augustin, and Torrey Craig.
The Miami Heat face Milwaukee in consecutive games very early on in the season. Their fourth and fifth contests are both against the Bucks.
The Miami Heat lost a bit of the three-point shooting that they had last season in Jae Crowder, but between their newest additions in Moe Harkless and Avery Bradley, I believe they can make up for that while they have surely gotten a little better at least on defense. I believe that is more than a little better but I am playing it safe, while I also believe rookie draft pick, Precious Achiuwa, is in store to surprise a lot of us.
Achiuwa and second-year wingman, KZ Okpala, should bring another level and/or layer of defensive ability to the Miami Heat and they just so happened to be perfectly built as athletes to try and stay in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Things will certainly be interesting, that we can say.
Not only will those two get real tests early on in their major playing careers, as I am sure they will see some time with the deep run from last season and short turnaround causing Spo to give his guys some early rest, but the games themselves should be good early test for this team.
I am looking forward to opening day game against Orlando, the Christmas Day matchup against Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, and then most certainly this back-to-back pair of early tests against the Milwaukee Bucks. Because that’s just what they are and by putting them back to back early on, the league knew exactly what they were doing.